Lincoln upgrades reverse-911 system

Lincoln County upgraded its reverse-911 system and cut some costs in the process.

Diane Turbyfill

Lincoln County upgraded its reverse-911 system and cut some costs in the process.

Citizen Alerts has replaced the county’s former LincAlerts.

The new program offers more options for residents who want the latest information on emergency situations. It also trims more than $7,000 off the budget, according to Coral Saunders with Lincoln County Communications.

The switch went into effect Tuesday.

Anyone previously registered through the old system will be grandfathered in, Saunders said. Listed landlines will automatically be included.

But if you want to sign on with a cellphone or email you’ve got to register, said Saunders. You’ve also got to sign up to get weather alerts.

The new system will provide weather and lake advisories if the user so chooses and sends out timely information on evacuations and emergencies.

Previously only one person per address could get alerts. Now multiple residents of one home can sign up, she said.

Voice messages, texts and emails are included.

Nearly 2,000 people have already been enrolled in the new system.

The county was spending nearly $37,000 a year for the LincAlerts program. The new one will cost just under $29,000 for the first year and $27,000 for the second.

Saunders said the new system is more user-friendly and better for today’s phone user.

“It was a good system for years, but there have been so many advances in technology,” she said.

Want to enroll?

Go to: www.lincolncounty.org and click on the link under “quick links”